“Zehn Orks” (“Ten Orcs”) is the song by German medieval folk band “Die Streuner” from their album “Gebet Eines Spielmanns” (2002). The text is based on Jewish song “Tsen Brider” (Yiddish for “Ten Brothers”) first documented in 1901 in St. Petersburg, Russia. However, it is also obviously based on 19th century American counting song “Ten Little Injuns” also known under politically incorrect title “Ten Little Niggers” which was used in the famous Agatha Christie's novel of the same name (1939, renamed to “And Then There Were None” one year later for publication in USA). One of the early 19th century Russian translations of original songs transformed it into “Ten Jews”. The US original has the story told from the 3^rd person perspective, while Jewish one is sung from the 1^st person. Jewish versions vary from humorous to absolutely grim where all of brothers die in concetration camp, also they introduced a chorus part sung by number of singers corresponding to remaining brothers.

The song is sung in broken German implying Orcs' bad grammar, but also features pronunciations mimicking Yiddish, which together lead to diffences in texts presented in various lyrics archives. The version by “Die Streuner” is based on more funny variant of the text, e.g. the last brothers survives (and thus the whole song is performed by him only), but marries non-Jew, and cannot be considered a Jew since then.

For the sake of meter, Nûrlâm version is translated “Nuk honk uruk” (“Ten Orc-brothers”). It hardly could be sung exactly to Die Streuner's song without some melody alternation. Also some causes of death and numbers were swapped for better rhyme (Dwarf and Ent encounter). Broomstick ride ended with drowning in a lake instead of crashing into the wall, other lines were re-phrased a little less. The joke in the last line wasn't preserved as “fuck” and “female” (“Fick” & “Frau” in German) do not start with the same letter in Nûrlâm. “Socks/stockings” was translated as “foot-wrap”. “Glycol” was replaced “Glu kulâ…” (literally translated as “Piss is…”, also wrong tense here – Present instead of Past). Almost all 3rd person verb endings were dropped, many clitic postpositions became prepositions.

Nuk honk uruk dak kuz
Daknarirnuz or kîf
Dakhoguz golug-hai
Agh dakirnuz krith

Krith honk uruk dak kuz
Dakgrishuz orn pirishi
Orn thakuzûk' ornogsi
Agh dakirnuz skri

[Chorus:]
Grishnâkh sha za bha drang
Agh Zorg sha smaulûrz lag
Gaskat, akrat, fofat
Zi narash hazdat
Oi-oi-oi-oi-oi, oi-oi-oi-oi-oi
Gaskat, akrat, fofat
Zi narash hazdat

Skri honk uruk dak kuz
Dakirmuz htolut tarkniz
Ash norsi thakuzûk'
Agh dakirnuz udug

Udug honk ur'k dak kuz
Dakirmuz bamut bhîgholf kûrzhob
Ash dulâkuzâ tala rink
Agh dakirnuz ink

[Chorus]

Ink honk uruk dak kuz
Dak gaiguz thul-fraghum ob dak
Ash narzûpâkuz'
Agh dakirnuz krâk

Krâk honk uruk dak kuz
Dakshoguz hîmb îmob
Glu kulâ or ash kralt
Agh dakirnuz hant

[Chorus]

Hant honk uruk dak kuz
Daklaluz gazatûr
Ta ûsuz hok dakob fik
Agh dakirnuz krig

Krig honk uruk dak kuz
Dak gimbuz mûd nîr fird
Lûg krankniz tuduzul'
Agh dakirnuz krul

[Chorus]

Krul honk uruk dak kuz
Dakbrusuz throkhat narash
Amil honkdab thuloruz'
Da irnuz ash

Ashûk uruk dakuz
Da irmuz kruskâtut honk isk
Amilah dasog
Ash nîr firniz

[Chorus x2]

• Die Streuner – Zehn Orks on YouTube
• Tsen Brider on YouTube (version by Zupfgeigenhansel)
• "And Then There Were None" (Agatha Cristie's novel)
• Analysis of "Tsen Brider" (in German)